MATCH REPORT: Brandon’s new stars shine in Coventry Junior Championships

The staging of the biggest Coventry junior Cycle Speedway finals at Bretford Playing Fields last Sunday has been hailed a great success – and there were shocks galore on-track with the fledgling host club providing two age group category champions.

Heavy overnight rain gave way to a fine sunny day as the biggest local entry list for 40 years assembled to battle for the honour of being Coventry champion in under 8, under 11 and under 16 finals. The meeting was sponsored by Inspire Insurance.

The revived Brandon Bees track, at the idyllic rural Brandon Road venue, looked in superb condition. The circuit has been lovingly refurbished in the past six months by former rider Rob Hardie. Special spectator facilities had been laid-on in a gala afternoon for the resurgence pedal sport in the Coventry and district area.

Youngsters in the under 8s final were first to take centre stage, cheered on by parents and relatives. They put on a splendid show, with many of them racing in their first major event.

The first shock of the day soon unfolded. Pocket dynamo Louis Westhead, a product of the hugely popular `Dirt Bike Club` at Brandon this summer, raced to four qualifying heat victories to reach the grand final.

The 7-year-old, who attends the Grangehurst school in Longford, scorched from the outside gate in the final to post a stunning win. He beat the hard chasing Jude Willcockson – the pre meeting favorite – and Finn Yousen both of the Coventry club.

Coventry Cycle Speedway Under 8s Final

Sponsored by Inspire Insurance

Point scorers:
Louis Westhead (Brandon Bees) 16, Jude Willcockson (Coventry) 16, Autumn Smith (Coventry) 14, Lincoln Collins (Brandon Bees) 13, Finn Yousen (Coventry) 13, Alex Cunningham (Coventry) 9, Leo Brown (Coventry) 8, Alex Jones (Coventry) 7, Alfie Brown (Coventry) 7, Shivam Patel (Coventry) 6, Dylan Savage (Brandon Bees) 5 and Ruary Hughes (Coventry) 5.

Grand Final: 1 Louis Westhead (Brandon Bees), 2 Jude Willcockson (Coventry), 3 Finn Yousen (Coventry), 4 Autumn Smith (Coventry), 5 Lincoln Collins (Brandon).

There was an even bigger surprise in the Coventry under 11s final when Brandon Bees newcomer Jony Middleton stormed to victory – just 10 weeks after taking up the sport.

Mounted on a brand new machine, Jony left all his opponents trailing in his wake to score a superb win. The 11-year-old beat many riders with vastly more experience in the final. He showed brilliant race tactics around the tricky Brandon Bees track.

Jony, who attends the Rugby Free School, raced through his qualifiers before lining up on grid two in the final. With tension rising, he jetted from the start to lead all the way to land a brilliant victory.

And, to complete a successful day for the Middleton family, who hail from Daventry, Northamptonshire, younger brother Lewis also reached the final before finishing fifth. Looking on were proud parents David and Sherry.

Jony said: “I love this new sport of Cycle Speedway which I had never heard of until this summer. I enjoy all the training sessions and have made lots of new friends and I get to race for the new Brandon Bees team.

“It was amazing to make the final on my new bike as one of the highest point scorers and going onto win. I am really proud of my little brother Lewis who made the final despite being one of the youngest riders in the competition”.

The speedy Wyatt Jacobs (Coventry), who had raced unbeaten in the qualifiers, took second place overall whilst the stylist Jack Reynolds, also of Coventry, took the bronze medal. Both riders are destined for the sports highest honours at their current rate of progress.

Coventry Cycle Speedway Under 11s Final

Sponsored by Inspire Insurance

Point scorers:
Wyatt Jacobs (Coventry) 16, Jony Middleton (Brandon Bees) 15, Jacob Slezak (Coventry) 14, Jack Reynolds (Coventry) 13, Lewis Middleton (Brandon Bees) 12, James Morris (Coventry) 11, Lewis Fry (Coventry) 9, Adam Butler (Brandon Bees) 8, Thomas Pearson (Brandon Bees) 7, Liam Jones (Coventry) 6, Harry Hibbert (Coventry) 5 and Sarah Butler (Brandon Bees) 4.

Grand Final: 1 Jony Middleton (Brandon Bees). 2 Wyatt Jacobs (Coventry). 3 Jack Reynolds (Coventry).

Jimmy Wassall of Coventry, recovered brilliantly after a first heat fall to win the Coventry under 16s final in an explosive meeting full of thrills and spills.

Wassall crashed spectacularly in heat one, also bringing down Ollie Morris. This left the flying Ben Wells to race unchallenged to the chequered flag. Wassall`s championship hopes appeared to be in tatters as he forlornly made his way back to the pits.

However, he rallied to score 11 points to reach the final alongside the previously unbeaten Wells, Brandon Bees hotshot Cameron Gill and top girl racer Sammi Marsh (Coventry).

In the deciding Grand Final, it was the dashing Gill who briefly led, but Wassall powered to the front and held on for four laps, despite the constant attention of Wells, with Gill in third place.

Coventry Cycle Speedway Under 16s Final

Sponsored by Inspire Insurance

Point scorers:
Ben Wells (Coventry) 16, Cameron Gill (Brandon Bees) 13, Sammi Marsh (Coventry) 12, Tom Savage (Brandon Bees) 11, Ollie Morris (Coventry) 11, Jimmy Wassall (Coventry) 11, Owen Gregory (Brandon Bees) 10, James Bridge-Wilkinson (Coventry) 7, Jacob Clifford (Coventry) 9, Lee Gregory (Brandon Bees) 8 and Amy Baynes (Brandon Bees) 5.

Grand Final: 1 Jimmy Wassall (Coventry). 2 Ben Wells (Coventry). 3 Cameron Gill (Brandon Bees).